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Police join fight against online sexual extortion

Slovak police have now joined the fight against the global phenomenon of online sexual extortion. They recently became a part of the Europol-coordinated campaign Say No!, the TASR newswire reported.

Children and youth more frequently communicate and interact with others in an online environment, and they even spend more time on the internet during summer holidays. Though it has become a natural part of their lives, it is necessary to warn children about potential threats and offer them help in case something illegal happens, the police say.

“Children share their pictures, videos, private information on social networks,” the police explained, as quoted by TASR, adding that children often meet new people and add them as friends, without knowing whether they are only pretending to be someone else or want more than friendship.

There has been a higher number of cases, especially abroad, of people persuading children to send them intimate pictures and videos and then asking them for money. If the children refuse, the person threatens to publish the intimate content.

Police recommend not sending more pictures or videos or any money if this happens. Instead, children should stop any further communication and block the user, though they should keep the evidence of the entire communication and turn to the police.

The police also published an educational video on the topic, explaining what could happen and what children should do.